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Colorado State vs Utah State: Why The Rams Can Win, How to Watch, Odds, Predicition
The Rams are in Utah to face the Aggies
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Can the Rams win 3 in a row?
WEEK 4: Colorado State Rams (2-2, 0-0 MW) vs. Utah State Aggies (2-3, 0-1 MW)
WHEN: Saturday, October 7th — 6:00 p.m. MST / 5:00 p.m. PST
WHERE: Maverik Stadium; Logan, UT (25,513)
WEATHER: Clear Sky, high of 72 degrees
TV: MW Network
RADIO: K99-FM 99.1 / ESPN 1600 AM (Colorado)
SERIES RECORD: This will be the 79th matchup between these two schools. Colorado State leads the series 39-37-2.
LAST MEETING: Utah State won 17-13 in Fort Collins last season.
WEBSITES: CSURams.com, the official Colorado State athletics website | UtahStateAggies.com, the official Utah State athletics website
GAME NOTES (PDF): Colorado State | Utah State
ODDS: Colorado State -2.5
OVER/UNDER: 62.5
SP+ PROJECTION: Utah State by 3.4
FEI PROJECTION: Utah State by 5.7
PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: Colorado State 54.39% win probability (31.20 to 29.55)
Colorado State heads to Logan, Utah to face the Aggies in the Rams first Mountain West game of the year. CSU is coming off a strong, but still disappointing 41-20 win over FCS Utah Tech. And now they turn their attentionto 8 straight weeks of conference play
Utah State is led by Blake Anderson in his 3rd season at the helm. Cooper Legas gets the nod under center, with McCae Hillstead out with a concussion. Davon Booth, Rahsul Faison, Jalen Royals, and Terrell Vaughn are the big threats on offense. MJ Tafisi and Ike Larsen are the ones to watch on defense.
League play begins.
𝟐𝟒 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬.#Stawart x #RamGrit 🐏 pic.twitter.com/DKKt64HfQv— Colorado State Football (@CSUFootball) October 7, 2023
Now onto some keys to victory for the Rams.
Three Keys to a colorado state victory
1. Run the dang ball, Bobo!
The key is written jokingly, but it’s something the Rams need to figure out. They are bottom 5 in the country in rushing offense per game at 71 yards per game. The air raid is a passing offense, but Jay Norvell likes to throw in the run as a wrinkle to keep defenses honest.
The Rams have good running backs in Avery Morrow (still out with injury) and Kobe Johnson, who is expected back this week. The Rams OL has gotten better at pass protection, but if CSU wants to keep growing the Rams must get better at run blocking.
2. Complete 60 minute game
The Rams have not played a complete 60 minutes in any game this year. They laid an egg against Washington State before doing something in the second half. The ran roughshod over Colorado in the first half before playing back and letting the Buffs come back for the win. Against Middle Tennessee, the Rams woke up in the second half. And against Utah Tech, the Rams let them get within one point before going on a 20-0 run to end the game.
Against Utah State, who has the same struggles, the Rams have a chance to show they can be a true force in the Mountain West. Play a complete game in all phases (passing, running, defense, and special teams) and make the other teams respect you.
3. Defense needs to step up
What was a strength of the team last season, has turned into a nightmare. Games are closer than they should be. Tackles are being missed. Holes are being left open everywhere. This Rams defense needs to take a look in the mirror and decide what kind of defense they actually want to be.
This doesn’t mean the talent isn’t there. Mohamed Kamara, Jack Howell, Chigozie Anusiem, and others are good players, but they haven’t been able to put it together as a team. This is the Rams chance to do so and make Rams fans remember last years defense.
what will happen
CSU comes out with a fire. Utah State starts slow and the Rams will take advantage. The Aggies will make a little comeback, but it will be too little, too late as Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi tears apart the Aggie defense with Tory Horton and Dallin Holker.
Final Score: Colorado State 42, Utah State 31
